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International human rights instruments
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<h2 id="declarations">Declarations</h2> <h3>Global</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_the_Child/j2gk08V2">Declaration of the Rights of the Child</a> 1923</li> <li><a href="/facts/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights/8hsauJsB">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a> (<a href="/facts/United_Nations/fgXLnmgT">UN</a>, 1948)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Declaration_on_the_Rights_of_Disabled_Persons/v0Jph5du">Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons</a> (<a href="/facts/United_Nations/fgXLnmgT">UN</a>, 1975)</li> <li>Declaration on the Right to Development (<a href="/facts/United_Nations/fgXLnmgT">UN</a> study published in 1979; UN declaration proclaimed in 1986)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Vienna_Declaration_and_Programme_of_Action/CvbaxDrN">Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action</a> (<a href="/facts/World_Conference_on_Human_Rights/YtxNDM2M">World Conference on Human Rights</a>, 1993)</li> <li><a href="/facts/World_Conference_on_Women,_1995/htfpBGkQ">Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action</a> (The Fourth World Conference on Women, 1995)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Declaration_of_Human_Duties_and_Responsibilities/fqtJ3m0u">Declaration of Human Duties and Responsibilities</a> (<a href="/facts/UNESCO/QSbkRv3o">UNESCO</a>, 1998)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Universal_Declaration_on_Cultural_Diversity/GMs1Ifgt">Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity</a> (<a href="/facts/UNESCO/QSbkRv3o">UNESCO</a>, 2001)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Declaration_on_the_Rights_of_Indigenous_Peoples/PIWfzBnL">Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples</a> (<a href="/facts/United_Nations/fgXLnmgT">UN</a>, 2007)</li> <li><a href="/facts/LGBT_rights_at_the_United_Nations/hxfqVQQa">UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity</a> (<a href="/facts/United_Nations/fgXLnmgT">UN</a>, 2008)</li> <li></li></ul> <h3>Regional: Americas</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/American_Declaration_of_the_Rights_and_Duties_of_Man/IHlV45ne">American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man</a> (<a href="/facts/Organization_of_American_States/bxrtCRTI">OAS</a>, 1948)</li> <li><a href="https://www.oas.org/en/sare/documents/DecAmIND.pdf">American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples</a> (OAS, 2016)</li></ul> <h3>Regional: Asia</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Human_rights_in_Asia/o4UAMRm2">Declaration of the Basic Duties of ASEAN Peoples and Governments</a> (<a href="/facts/Jose_W._Diokno/MrXl70Jo">Regional Council of Human Rights in Asia</a>, 1983)</li> <li><a href="/facts/ASEAN_Human_Rights_Declaration/mmC6dM8l">ASEAN Human Rights Declaration</a> (<a href="/facts/Association_of_Southeast_Asian_Nations/77wDkXmL">ASEAN</a>, 2009)</li></ul> <h3>Regional: Middle East</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Cairo_Declaration_of_Human_Rights_in_Islam/A0W1RTcL">Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam</a> (<a href="/facts/Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation/wWSQSzfF">OIC</a>,1990)</li></ul> <h2 id="conventions">Conventions</h2> <h3>Global</h3> <p>According to OHCHR, there are 9 <i>core</i> international human rights instruments and several optional protocols.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Convention_on_the_Elimination_of_All_Forms_of_Racial_Discrimination/e5ACAxr4">Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination</a> (ICERD, 21 December 1965)</li> <li><a href="/facts/International_Covenant_on_Civil_and_Political_Rights/669Bctgs">International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights</a> (ICCPR, 16 December 1966)</li> <li><a href="/facts/International_Covenant_on_Economic,_Social,_and_Cultural_Rights/cb0LgRj1">International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights</a> (ICESCR, 16 December 1966)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Convention_on_the_Elimination_of_All_Forms_of_Discrimination_Against_Women/IczqNrE7">Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women</a> (CEDAW, 18 December 1979)</li> <li><a href="/facts/United_Nations_Convention_Against_Torture/UCuasurV">Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment</a> (CAT, 10 December 1984)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Convention_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child/YzGsfyY8">Convention on the Rights of the Child</a> (CRC, 20 November 1989)</li> <li><a href="/facts/International_Convention_on_the_Protection_of_the_Rights_of_All_Migrant_Workers_and_Members_of_Their_Families/rVhrUFgx">International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families</a> (ICMW, 18 December 1990)</li> <li><a href="/facts/International_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_All_Persons_from_Enforced_Disappearance/FM8XAjdo">International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance</a> (CPED, 20 December 2006)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Convention_on_the_Rights_of_Persons_with_Disabilities/13mRMyyc">Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</a> (CRPD, 13 December 2006)</li></ul> <p>Several more human rights instruments exist. A few examples: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/The_International_Convention_on_the_Suppression_and_Punishment_of_the_Crime_of_Apartheid/MGAEJ4WQ">The International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid</a> (ICSPCA)</li> <li><a href="/facts/International_Convention_on_the_Protection_of_the_Rights_of_All_Migrant_Workers_and_Members_of_Their_Families/rVhrUFgx">International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Convention_Relating_to_the_Status_of_Refugees/oalrKBJz">Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees</a> and <a href="/facts/Protocol_Relating_to_the_Status_of_Refugees/jDpR9pMD">Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Convention_on_the_Reduction_of_Statelessness/4yMX05mf">Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Convention_on_the_Prevention_and_Punishment_of_the_Crime_of_Genocide/MNjAX4Dp">Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Indigenous_and_Tribal_Peoples_Convention,_1989/65lnVqm7">Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989</a> (ILO 169)</li> <li><a href="/facts/HURIDOCS/rASxtHxE">Inaugural HURIDOCS Assembly</a> (HURIDOCS, 24 July 1982)</li> <li><a href="/facts/OMCT/3sIvL4RL">SOS-Torture Convention</a> (OMCT, 14 April 1983)</li></ul> <h3>Regional: Africa</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/African_Charter_on_Human_and_Peoples%27_Rights/vb8GdGAC">African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights</a> (June, 1981)</li> <li><a href="/facts/African_Charter_on_the_Rights_and_Welfare_of_the_Child/cygLoWo3">African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child</a> (1990)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Maputo_Protocol/0NJlWRcL">Maputo Protocol</a> (11 July 2003)</li> <li><a href="/facts/African_Youth_Charter/y6PjW4SG">African Youth Charter</a> (June 30,2006)</li> <li>African Disability Protocol (June 30,2019)</li> <li>SADC Gender Protocol (revised version enters into force 2018)</li></ul> <h3>Regional: America</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/American_Convention_on_Human_Rights/k2waP7f5">American Convention on Human Rights</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Inter-American_Convention_to_Prevent_and_Punish_Torture/tnXSJTMt">Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Inter-American_Convention_on_Forced_Disappearance_of_Persons/A2wwxpJg">Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Inter-American_Convention_on_the_Prevention,_Punishment,_and_Eradication_of_Violence_against_Women/jJvEpEQa">Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Inter-American_Convention_on_the_Elimination_of_All_Forms_of_Discrimination_against_Persons_with_Disabilities/gbdv8Lfk">Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities</a></li></ul> <h3>Regional: Europe</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Charter_of_Fundamental_Rights_of_the_European_Union/rzrs16ae">Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Convention_on_Action_against_Trafficking_in_Human_Beings/knKtF2Ru">Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/European_Convention_on_Nationality/2SQcYnCW">European Convention on Nationality</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/European_Charter_for_Regional_or_Minority_Languages/8YYJr9Kc">European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages</a> (ECRML)</li> <li><a href="/facts/European_Convention_on_Human_Rights/yEyFjz25">European Convention on Human Rights</a> (ECHR)</li> <li><a href="/facts/European_Convention_for_the_Prevention_of_Torture_and_Inhuman_or_Degrading_Treatment_or_Punishment/Ble2TBbe">European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment</a> (CPT)</li> <li><a href="/facts/European_Social_Charter/ttNSlkNa">European Social Charter</a> (ESC), and Revised Social Charter</li> <li><a href="/facts/Framework_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_National_Minorities/jk7Kaznz">Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities</a> (FCNM)</li></ul> <h3>Regional: Middle East</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Arab_Charter_on_Human_Rights/xH1MlMRY">Arab Charter on Human Rights</a> (ACHR) (22 May 2004)</li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Universal_jurisdiction/I3fGxy8p">Universal jurisdiction</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Rule_of_Law_in_Armed_Conflicts_Project_(RULAC)/T5Cu0wwW">Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts Project (RULAC)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/International_Criminal_Court/z0VwbKkz">International Criminal Court</a> (established in 2002)</li> <li><a href="/facts/International_human_rights_law/7ugYK3zV">International human rights law</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Human_rights_inflation/JmoM0QF6">Human rights inflation</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Human_rights_treaty_bodies/WMW5XCdM">Human rights treaty bodies</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_human_rights_organizations/kkDPUAFN">List of human rights organizations</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_indigenous_rights_organizations/9z8u2L08">List of indigenous rights organizations</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_international_animal_welfare_conventions/o6agNPny">List of international animal welfare conventions</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Rule_of_law/BS8rbmel">Rule of law</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Rule_According_to_Higher_Law/HpVcg88z">Rule According to Higher Law</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/index.htm">International Human Rights Instruments - U.N. list</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ijrcenter.org">International Justice Resource Center</a> News and resources for international human rights law</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"The Core International Human Rights Instruments and their monitoring bodies". OHCHR. <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/core-international-human-rights-instruments-and-their-monitoring-bodies" target="_blank">https://www.ohchr.org/en/core-international-human-rights-instruments-and-their-monitoring-bodies</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Druzin, Bryan (2016). "Why does Soft Law have any Power anyway?". Asian Journal of International Law: 1. <a href="https://works.bepress.com/bryan_druzin/22/download/" target="_blank">https://works.bepress.com/bryan_druzin/22/download/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"General Introduction to the standard-setting instruments of UNESCO". legal office website of UNESCO. UNESCO. Retrieved 6 June 2017. <a href="http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=23772&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html#name=1" target="_blank">http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=23772&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html#name=1</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"OHCHR". OHCHR Universal Human Rights Instruments. OHCHR. Retrieved 6 June 2017. <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/UniversalHumanRightsInstruments.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/UniversalHumanRightsInstruments.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"The Core International Human Rights Instruments and their monitoring bodies". ohchr.org. OHCHR. <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/core-international-human-rights-instruments-and-their-monitoring-bodies" target="_blank">https://www.ohchr.org/en/core-international-human-rights-instruments-and-their-monitoring-bodies</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>